Australia continued their surge towards reclaiming the number one Test ranking after a resounding innings-and-52-run first Test victory over New Zealand in Wellington.
Despite a half-century from debutant Henry Nicholls, the tail end of New Zealand’s batting line-up failed to offer any resistance as the hosts succumbed to reverse swing.
Tim Southee hit a quick-fire 48 off 35 balls, which included three sixes, but he soon fell to spinner Nathan Lyon, who finished with figures of 4-91 as the Black Caps were bowled out for 327.
Having lost retiring captain Brendon McCullum from the final ball of day three, the hosts resumed the fourth morning at 178 for four but added just nine runs to that total before losing Corey Anderson for nought, trapped lbw by Mitchell Marsh.
BJ Watling was the next man to walk back to the pavilion as he fell victim to the spin of Lyon, but Nicholls continued to play a gritty innings, reaching 59 – the highest score by a New Zealand debutant batting at number four.
After Jackson Bird bagged the prize wicket of Nicholls, the tourists used the conventional swing of the new ball to full effect as Josh Hazlewood struck Doug Bracewell in front for 14.
Mark Craig and Southee steered New Zealand past 300 before the latter played a shot too many as he skied an effort to Usman Khawaja off the bowling of Lyon.
Trent Boult was the last man to go as the Black Caps lost a Test at home for the first time since March 2012. The series concludes in Christchurch from Saturday.
Source: ECB